Ref. : 3498-10-en
Eugene Rousseau (1827-1890) - L'Escalier de Cristal
Japanesque Crystal and Gilded Bronze Vase.
Origine
France, circa 1880
H total : 28,9 cm / 11.4 in.
L max: 29 cm / 11.4 in.
D max: 15,7 cm / 6.2 in.
Description
Vase in the shape influenced by ritual Chinese Zun Vase. Mould-blown smoked glass, made in two layers with coloured inclusions. Japanesque (Japonisme) mounting with reticulated panels of birds perched on blossoming branches, with openwork handles in gilded bronze.
Signature
Signature : "E. Rousseau / Paris / E. de C" engraved on the bottom of the crystal vase.
Notes
With this Japanesque (Japonisme) Vase, made around 1880 for l'Escalier de Cristal - Paris, Rousseau used a mottled and splashed glass suggesting that this piece is in carved agate.
Eugene Rousseau's works are present in several museums such as in France the Musee d'Orsay (Inv. OAO 715, 965, 967, 968, 978, 1634, 1635... and the Musee des Arts Decoratifs Paris (MAD) (Inv. 623, 625, 626, 627, 628, 631, 635, 636, 638 à 642)... In UK the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) (Inv. 673-1878, 674-1878, C. 417-1922), in USA the Metropolitan Museum of New York (MET) (Inv. 2001.656 ), the Cleveland Museum of Art (Inv. 2001-36)... In Germany The Neue Sammlung, State Museum of Applied Arts and Design, Munich (Inv. 6.3.2015), the Wien Österreichisches Museum für angewandte Kunst (MAK) (Inv. -Nr.Em GL1875)...
Selective Biography
François-Eugene Rousseau (1827-1890), French ceramicist, later glassware maker.
In 1866 Rousseau commissioned from F. Bracquemond an earthenware set, which, in being inspired Hosukai Manga, marked the beginning of Japonism in French ceramics.
A year later he designed his first glassworks models, the construction of which was carried out by the Appert Brothers of Clichy. His glassmaking method involved the doubling and acid engraving of the glass, and he produced pieces which were crackled and/or treated with oxides, gold leaf or silver.
Along with Galle, Rousseau experienced a triumphant success at the Exposition des Arts Appliqués in 1884. One year later, in 1885, he struck a partnership with his pupil Ernest Leveille (? - 1913), who worked in the spirit of his teacher until succeeding him in 1888.
Now working alone, Leveille would continue to practice in the style of Rousseau, adapting it to the spirit of the fin de siècle.
Founded in 1804 the house l'Escalier de Cristal was specialized in the sale of luxury items specially ordered from the best workshops over the world and finalized by its own craftmen.
Its name comes from the crystal balusters that decorated the staircase linking the different store floors...
Selective Bibliography
Revues :
De Liesville, (A.-R.), « Les Industries d'Art au Champ de Mars, IV-2 Verrerie », dans L'Art Moderne à l'Exposition de 1878, Publication de la Gazette des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1879, p. 432.
Rosenthal, (L.), « La Renaissance de la Verrerie Française au XIXe siècle », dans la Gazette des Beaux-Arts, T XV, Paris, 1927, p. 51 à 64.
Exhibition catalogs :
Catalogue général officiel de l'exposition universelle de 1889, vol. III, Paris, 1889, Groupe III, classe 19, p.1 n° 2 et p. 2, n° 55.
Catalogue officiel de l'exposition universelle de 1878, t. II, Paris, 1878, Groupe III, classe 19, p. 154, n° 38 et p. 156, n° 18.
Books :
Arwas, (V.), Art Nouveau, the French aesthetic, London, 2002, p. 446-448.
Bloch-Dermant, (J.), L'Art du Verre en France, 1860-1914, Paris, 1974, p. 33-35 et p. 40-43.
Cappa, (G.), Le Génie Verrier de l'Europe, Témoignages, De l'Historicisme à la Modernité (1840-1998), Sprimont- Belgique, 1998, p. 370-376, fig. 643, 644 et 645.
Delaborde, (Y.), Le Verre, Art et Design-XIXe-XXIe siècles, v. 2, Courbevoie (Paris), 2011, p. 190, fig. p. 190 et pp. 256-259, fig. p. 257 et 258.
Ennès, (P.), Histoire du Verre, Au Carrefour de l'Art et de l'Industrie, Le XIXe siècle, Paris, 2006, p. 190-195, fig. p. 192.
Lambourne, (L.), Japonisme, Echanges culturels entre le Japon et l'Occident, Paris, 2006, p. 79.
Rosenthal, (L.), La verrerie française, depuis cinquante ans, Paris, 1927, p. 10-13.
Wishmann, (S.), Japonisme, Paris, 1982, p. 9, 46, 304-307, fig. 851, 864 et 871.
